MA History of Art and Archaeology
London, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,320 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas student fees | home student fees: GBP 12,220 per year
Key Summary
Introduction
The MA History of Art and Archaeology programme is a unique opportunity to study the History of Art and Archaeology of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Your extensive choice of modules will allow you to shape the degree around the areas that interest you most โ you can either focus on a region or experience a broad range of themes. Students explore a wide range of arts and material culture, from Islamic art to African diasporic art, contemporary Korean ceramics and Southeast Asian Buddhist monuments, exploring their specificity and the links between them, in historical and contemporary periods. Modules include field-trips, museum and storage visits, and talks by curators, artists and other practitioners.
You will consider theoretical and methodological questions and are invited to question the relevance of the disciplinary distinction between the History of Art and Archaeology to the study of the non-Western world. Courses cover a time period spanning from antiquity to present-day, contemporary art.
Why study History of Art and Archaeology at SOAS?
- SOAS is ranked 15th in the UK for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- We are ranked 6th in the UK for employability (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- We partner with the British Council to offer a School of Arts student an internship at the Venice Biennale
- We partner with the Chu Te-Chun Foundation to offer a paid internship at the Venice Biennale
- We offer exclusive School of Arts-led internships at the Rietberg Museum, Zurich (2 places available)
- You can apply for a SOAS Co-Creator internship in the Special Collections of the SOAS Library
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Structure
Occasionally the availability of optional modules changes as a result of staffing and other circumstances. Students who had signed up for such modules will be notified as soon as possible and given the opportunity to choose from available alternatives.
Students must complete 120 credits of MA taught modules in addition to the compulsory dissertation (60 credits).
Students may be allowed to study for the MA on a part-time basis.
- The part-time MA may be taken over two years, in which case the student takes two 30 credits modules (or equivalent 15 credits modules) in the first year, and two 30 credits modules (or equivalent 15 credits modules) and the dissertation in the second year.
- Alternatively, it can be taken over three years, in which case the student can distribute the 120 credits modules evenly in each of the three years. The dissertation can be written in year two or three, but it is strongly recommended that this be undertaken in the final year of the programme. It must be submitted in September of the year in which the student registers for it.
Dissertation
- Dissertation in History of Art and Archaeology
Taught Component
Guided Option
- Choose modules to the value of 75 credits from list of Art & Archaeology options.
and
Open Option
Choose modules to the value of 45 credits from options in other departments.
List of Art & Archaeology modules
- Ancient Chinese Civilisation
- Arab Painting
- Architectural Boundaries and the Body
- Art and Architecture of the Fatimids
- Arts of Koryo and Chosen Korea
- Arts of Modern and Contemporary China (since 1800)
- Arts of the Tamil Temple
- Asia and Africa On Display: Objects, Exhibitions and Transculturism
- Buddhist and Hindu Art of the Maritime Silk Route
- Buddhist Art in a Cosmopolitan Environment: Gandharan Art and its Heritage
- Ceramics in Chinese Culture: 10th - 18th Centuries
- China and the Silk Road: Art and Archaeology
- Chinese Porcelain: Trade, Transfer and Reception
- Collecting and Curating Buddhist Art in the Museum
- Contemporary Art and the Global
- Critical Themes in Tibetan Art
- Curating Cultures Cohort A
- Curating Cultures Cohort C
- Discourses on Modern and Contemporary Art of the Middle East
- (En)gendering Southeast Asia: Aesthetics and Politics of Sexual Difference
- Illustrated Manuscript Cultures of Southeast Asia
- Imag(in)ing Buddhahood in South Asia (1)
- Interpreting Visual Expressions of the Mandala
- Islam and the West: Artistic and Cultural Contacts
- Islamic Art and Architecture of Eastern Mediterranean of the Period of the Crusades (11th-14th centuries)
- Art and Architecture of the Seljuks and Ottomans (12th -15th centuries)
- Issues in Contemporary Southeast Asian Art
- Modern and Contemporary Arts in Africa
- Modern and Contemporary Korean Art
- Monuments and sculpture of Angkor
- Visuality and Islamic Art
- Photography and the Image in Africa
- Persian Painting
- Popular Practice in the Edo Period Arts
- Representing Conflict: A Cross-Cultural and Inter-Disciplinary Approach
- Shogunal Iconography in the Edo Period
- Southeast Asia's Art Histories
- The Figure of the Buddha: Theory, Practice and the Making of Buddhist Art History
- The Indian Temple
- The Silk Road and its Origins: Art and Archaeology
- Tibetan Buddhist Monuments in Context
- Theory and Method in Art History
- Visual Arts of Dynastic China (to 1800) (Cohort A)
Options in Other Departments
- Anthropology
- Culture and Society of China
- Culture and Society of East Africa
- Culture and Society of Japan
- Culture and Society of South Asia
- Culture and Society of South East Asia
- Culture and Society of West Africa
- Culture and Society of Near and Middle East
- Culture and Society of China
- Culture and Society of East Africa
- Culture and Society of Japan
- Culture and Society of South Asia
- Culture and Society of South East Asia
- Culture and Society of West Africa
- Culture and Society of Near and Middle East
- History
- Encountering the Other: the Middle East during the Crusading Period
- Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia 1 - Making States and Building Nations
- Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia 2 - Non-National Perspectives
- Knowledge and Power in Early Modern China
- Nationhood and Competing Identities in Modern China
- Outsiders in Medieval Middle Eastern Societies: Minorities, Social Outcasts and Foreigners
- Encountering the Other: the Middle East during the Crusading Period
- Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia 1 - Making States and Building Nations
- Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia 2 - Non-National Perspectives
- Knowledge and Power in Early Modern China
- Nationhood and Competing Identities in Modern China
- Outsiders in Medieval Middle Eastern Societies: Minorities, Social Outcasts and Foreigners
- Study of Religions
- Avestan I
- Buddhism in Tibet
- Buddhist Meditation in India and Tibet
- Chinese Religious Texts: A Reading Seminar
- Eastern and Orthodox Christianity
- Imag(in)ing Buddhahood in South Asia (2)
- Pahlavi Language
- Religious Practice in Japan: Texts, Rituals and Believers
- The Origins and Development of Yoga in Ancient India
- Zoroastrianism: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
- Avestan I
- Buddhism in Tibet
- Buddhist Meditation in India and Tibet
- Chinese Religious Texts: A Reading Seminar
- Eastern and Orthodox Christianity
- Imag(in)ing Buddhahood in South Asia (2)
- Pahlavi Language
- Religious Practice in Japan: Texts, Rituals and Believers
- The Origins and Development of Yoga in Ancient India
- Zoroastrianism: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
- Media Studies
- Communication, Culture and Politics in the Middle East: Theoretical and Analytical Approaches
- Media Spectacle and Urban Space in East Asia
- Mediated Culture in the Middle East: Politics and Communications
- Communication, Culture and Politics in the Middle East: Theoretical and Analytical Approaches
- Media Spectacle and Urban Space in East Asia
- Mediated Culture in the Middle East: Politics and Communications
- Music
- Aspects of Music and Religion in South East Asia
- Music, Urbanism and Conflict in Jaffa
- Music, Place and Politics in Cuba
- Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters)
- Aspects of Music and Religion in South East Asia
- Music, Urbanism and Conflict in Jaffa
- Music, Place and Politics in Cuba
- Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters)
- Africa
- African Philosophy (PG)
- Philosophy and Decolonisation (PG)
- Curating Africa: African Film and Video in the Age of Festivals
- Literature in African languages
- The Story of African Film: Narrative Screen Media in Africa
- Travelling Africa: Writing the Cape to Cairo
- African Philosophy (PG)
- Philosophy and Decolonisation (PG)
- Curating Africa: African Film and Video in the Age of Festivals
- Literature in African languages
- The Story of African Film: Narrative Screen Media in Africa
- Travelling Africa: Writing the Cape to Cairo
- China and Asia
- Tibetan (Classical) 1 A
- Tibetan (Classical) 1 B
- Modern Chinese Film and Theatre (PG)
- Chinese 1 A (PG)
- Chinese 1 B (PG)
- Chinese 2 (PG)
- Chinese 3 (PG)
- Chinese 4 (PG)
- Reading Classical and Literary Chinese (PG)
- Traditional Chinese Language and Literature
- Tibetan (Classical) 1 A
- Tibetan (Classical) 1 B
- Modern Chinese Film and Theatre (PG)
- Chinese 1 A (PG)
- Chinese 1 B (PG)
- Chinese 2 (PG)
- Chinese 3 (PG)
- Chinese 4 (PG)
- Reading Classical and Literary Chinese (PG)
- Traditional Chinese Language and Literature
- Japan and Korea
- Japanese 1 A (PG)
- Japanese 1 B (PG)
- Korean 1 A (PG)
- Korean 1 B (PG)
- Japanese Post-War Film Genres and the Avant-Garde
- Japanese Traditional Drama (PG)
- Literary Traditions and Culture of Korea (PG)
- Trajectories of Modernity in Korean Literature (PG)
- Japanese 1 A (PG)
- Japanese 1 B (PG)
- Korean 1 A (PG)
- Korean 1 B (PG)
- Japanese Post-War Film Genres and the Avant-Garde
- Japanese Traditional Drama (PG)
- Literary Traditions and Culture of Korea (PG)
- Trajectories of Modernity in Korean Literature (PG)
- Near & Middle East
- Arabic 400 (PG)
- Arabic 600 (PG)
- Arabic Poetry and Criticism
- Classical Ottoman Texts (PG)
- Classical Persian Poetry: Texts and Traditions (PG)
- Critical Perspectives on Palestine Studies I: History and Politics
- Critical Perspectives on Palestine Studies II: Culture and Society
- Elementary Persian Texts (PG)
- Film and Society in the Middle East
- Intensive Turkish Language (PG)
- Arabic 200 (PG)
- Iran: History, Culture, Politics
- Israel and the Palestinians
- Medieval Arabic Thought
- Ottoman Turkish Language (PG)
- Intermediate Persian Language (PG)
- Reading Classical Arabic Historians: Themes and Trends in Islamic Historiography
- Arabic 400 (PG)
- Arabic 600 (PG)
- Arabic Poetry and Criticism
- Classical Ottoman Texts (PG)
- Classical Persian Poetry: Texts and Traditions (PG)
- Critical Perspectives on Palestine Studies I: History and Politics
- Critical Perspectives on Palestine Studies II: Culture and Society
- Elementary Persian Texts (PG)
- Film and Society in the Middle East
- Intensive Turkish Language (PG)
- Arabic 200 (PG)
- Iran: History, Culture, Politics
- Israel and the Palestinians
- Medieval Arabic Thought
- Ottoman Turkish Language (PG)
- Intermediate Persian Language (PG)
- Reading Classical Arabic Historians: Themes and Trends in Islamic Historiography
- South Asia
- Bengali Language 2 (PG)
- Culture and Conflict in Nepal
- Hindi Language 1 A (PG)
- Hindi Language 1 B (PG)
- Hindi Language 2 (PG)
- Hindi Language 3 (PG)
- Indian Cinema: Its History and Social Context
- Indian Cinema: Key Issues
- Literature & Colonialism in North India (Masters)
- Nepali Language 2 (PG)
- Sanskrit Language 2 (PG)
- The Politics of Culture in Contemporary South Asia
- Urdu Language 2 (PG)
- Bengali Language 2 (PG)
- Culture and Conflict in Nepal
- Hindi Language 1 A (PG)
- Hindi Language 1 B (PG)
- Hindi Language 2 (PG)
- Hindi Language 3 (PG)
- Indian Cinema: Its History and Social Context
- Indian Cinema: Key Issues
- Literature & Colonialism in North India (Masters)
- Nepali Language 2 (PG)
- Sanskrit Language 2 (PG)
- The Politics of Culture in Contemporary South Asia
- Urdu Language 2 (PG)
- South and South East Asia
- Burmese Language 2 (PG)
- Genders and Sexualities in South East Asian Film
- Indonesian Language 2 (PG)
- Jawi and the Malay Manuscript Tradition (Masters)
- Thai Language 2 (PG)
- Vietnamese Language 2 (PG)
- Burmese Language 2 (PG)
- Genders and Sexualities in South East Asian Film
- Indonesian Language 2 (PG)
- Jawi and the Malay Manuscript Tradition (Masters)
- Thai Language 2 (PG)
- Vietnamese Language 2 (PG)
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Students in the School of Arts develop a critical and theoretically informed approach to global arts and culture. In addition to an intercultural awareness and practical expertise, graduates gain a wide portfolio of transferable skills which are especially sought after in the creative and cultural industries.
Recent School of Arts graduates have been hired by:
- Christieโs
- Christine Park Gallery
- Crisis
- Design Museum
- Hong Kong Museum Of Art
- India Foundation For The Arts
- Japanese Gallery
- Museum of East Asian Art
- Music in Detention
- National Gallery
- Pan Arts
- People Projects Culture & Change
- Roundhouse Trust
- Somerset House Trust
- Songlines Magazine
- Sotheby's
- South Asian Art UK
- Stratford Circus Arts Centre
- Taiwan Embassy
- The Alliance for Global Education
- The British Embassy
- The National Museum Of Korea
- The Royal Collection
- Victoria and Albert Museum
Faculty
Program delivery
Teaching consists of a combination of lectures and seminars. Classes are normally between two and three hours per week for each module. Teaching methods include lectures with discussion, seminars (at which students present papers) and museum visits. Students at all levels are expected to take an active part in class presentations. A particularly important element is the training of the student's visual memory.
In addition to their studies in the MA programme, students at SOAS can participate in a wide range of research seminars, lectures and conferences that regularly take place in the School and the University of London.